Great California Chardonnay

[winelady43]

I had a delicious Chardonnay the other night which I was told came from Ventura County, California. The name of the vinyard was Latin...something like Sine Non Qua and the name of the wine was Twisted and Bent. Apparently this particular winery always uses funny names like that. Anyway, I'd like to try and buy some. Where should I look?

[mrdutton]

The name of the winery and thier address and telephone number follow:

Sine Qua Non
Ojai, CA
Phone: (805) 640-0997

If you call them, they should be able to tell you who thier distributors are, if they have any in New York.

The 1997 SINE QUA NON, IMPOSTOR MCCOY, CALIFORNIA RED WINE is available at Pop's Wine Store (www.popswine.com) on Long Island at $185.00 a bottle. So maybe if you call Pop's they might be able to help you find the white stuff!

Pop's Wines & Spirits
256 Long Beach Road
Island Park, New York
516-431-0025

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 06-05-2000).]

[Randy Caparoso]

Wines by Sine Qua Non are sold strictly to mailing list customers only. I believe (and afraid to say), that there is probably a waiting list to get on the mailing list. You see, the quantities produced number in only the hundreds of cases (6 packs, even). I would surmise that the price at Pop's is due to the fact that their meager supply was also bought via mailing list -- hence the extraordinary price.

Each year Sine Qua gives a new name, and label, to its white and red cuvees. The "Twisted & Bent" is actually a blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne -- powerful, thick, viscous, lusciously aromatic and flavorful. Rare quality, miniscule supply, huge price. The "Imposter McCoy" is almost pure Syrah (I surmise, since the owners are sketchy on the makeup) -- hugely tannic, but also thick, sweetly concentrated and inundated with peppery, perfumey spice. Neither wine, mind you, is for the faint of heart.

Needless to say, I confess to be a mailing list customer. You can find it in our restaurants in Hawaii only. And for way less than Pop's!

[mrdutton]

Not if you include the cost of the trip to Hawaii and back home again. That would be one expensive meal and bottle of wine, for sure!! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Randy Caparoso]

FYI, the "Twisted & Bent" and "Imposter McCoy" are sold in our five Hawaii restaurants for $90 and $95 respectively. Drink several bottles of each, and you just might make up for the cost of a $400 "cheap ticket!"